What do you mean by “Projects for Peace”?
Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative for all students at the Davis United World College Scholars Program schools to design their own grassroots projects for peace that they themselves will implement anywhere in the world during the summer of 2008. Through a competition on over 85 campuses, 100 projects will be selected for funding at $10,000 each.

Who is funding this and why?
Davis Projects for Peace is being funded by Kathryn Wasserman Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist (who earned a B.A. from Wellesley, an M.A. from Columbia, and a Ph.D. from the University of Geneva) who is now over 100 years old. She is the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis who funds the Davis UWC Scholars Program currently involving over 85 American colleges and universities. Mrs. Davis feels some urgency to spark initiatives for building prospects for peace in the world and so is committing $1 million to fund one hundred $10,000 projects for peace. She believes that today’s youth – tomorrow’s leaders – ought to be challenged to formulate and test their own ideas.

What do you mean by “projects for peace”?
Intentionally, no clear definition is offered so as not to limit the imagination. We leave it up to the students to define what a “project for peace” might be. We hope to encourage creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. The overall program (all 100 projects) is to be worldwide in scope and impact, but specific projects may be undertaken anywhere and as grassroots as desired, including in the U.S.

Who is eligible to design a “project for peace”?
Undergraduate students at any of the Davis UWC Scholar schools (including seniors who would complete their projects after graduation) are eligible – so long as the president of their institution has signed and returned the grant agreement form. While the schools included are restricted to those in the Davis UWC Scholars Program, all undergraduates (not just Davis UWC Scholars at those schools) are eligible. Groups of students from the same campus, as well as individual students, may submit proposals. Note: For the summer of 2008, Davis Projects for Peace has expanded beyond the Davis United World College Scholar schools to include selected International Houses around the world, organized by International House, New York.  Kathryn Davis and her husband lived in International House while working on their masters' degrees at Columbia many years ago, and Kathryn remains a staunch supporter of International House. 

How does the funding for these projects work?
Mrs. Davis has committed $1 million to fund 100 projects for peace in 2008. While Davis funding per project is limited to $10,000, projects with larger budgets are welcome as is co-funding from other sources (such as other philanthropists, a college or university, foundation, NGO/PVO or students’ own fundraising). Note: Additional funding has also been committed for projects submitted by International House. .

How does a student (or group of students) make a proposal?
To be considered, a student (or group of students) must prepare a written statement which describes the project (who, what, where, how) including expected outcomes and prospects for future impact (not to exceed two pages) as well as a budget (one separate page). Proposals should include pre-approval of all involved parties and organizations involved in the project. The two-page proposal and one page budget should be submitted electronically to the designated official at each campus as outlined below. Students with queries may direct them to their campus designated official as communication between students writing proposals and the Davis UWC Scholars office is prohibited.

How are these proposals submitted and judged?
Each involved campus has a designated official to coordinate the process on each campus. This official, in ways s/he deems appropriate, will guide the internal campus procedures for: announcing and promoting the opportunity to students; organizing the selection committee to evaluate the proposals submitted; communicating results on a timely basis to the Davis UWC Scholars office; and distributing the awarded grant funds for the winning proposal(s) on campus. Final review and approval of all recommended proposals from individual campuses rests solely with the office of the Davis UWC Scholars Program which will then forward the appropriate grant funds to each school with winning project(s).

How will the 100 grants be awarded?
The intention is to fund 100 projects, with at least one at each of the Davis UWC Scholar schools. Therefore, all involved schools are invited to select and submit one proposal for funding and one or two additional proposals as alternates that might be funded as well. Final decisions on all grants are made by the Davis UWC Scholars Program office. Grants are made upon assurance that the project proposed will, in fact, be undertaken during the summer of 2008.

What is the timetable for proposals and decisions?

• During the fall of 2007: details of schools’ participation are finalized; promotion on campus by school officials; creation of selection processes and appointment of evaluation committees on campuses; and further communication, if necessary, between the Davis UWC Scholars office and school officials (communication between students writing proposals and the Davis UWC Scholars office is prohibited).
• All student proposals must be submitted to campus officials by the date designated by the campus committee.
• Recommended proposals must be determined and submitted by campus officials to Davis UWC Scholars office no later than February 15, 2008.
• Final decisions on all winning proposals rendered by Davis UWC Scholars office to campus officials by March 15, 2008.
• All grant payment letters signed by recipient schools AND student proposers due March 30, 2008.
• Grant payments to the schools will be made shortly after all agreements have been received by the Davis UWC Scholars office.
• Any alternates selected will be finally agreed to in April 2008.
• Projects completed during summer of 2008.
• Final reports due to Davis UWC Scholars office by September 15, 2008.

What is required for each project's final report?
For each funded project, the responsible student(s) must prepare and submit a final report by September 15, 2008. It should be submitted electronically to both the campus official and to the Davis UWC Scholars office. The final report is to be limited to two pages of narrative using the final report form posted on the website. It should also include a one page accounting of the funds expended. Students have the option of including up to 3 digital photos, attaching them to the end of their two-page final report The narrative should include: a brief restatement of the project’s purpose/plans, actual work completed, outcomes/achievements/failures, and long-term prospects of the initiative. Reports will be posted on the program’s website for all to see and learn from.

The 2008 final report submission information and template will be available shortly. Please check back.